In a meeting with the Vatican in Rome, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari promised Pope John Paul II that Iraq would protect religious freedom, particularly the Iraqi Christian community.

Christians in Iraq have long been persecuted in the Middle East, and churches have become the target of terrorist bomb attacks. Christians have been forced to gather and worship underground.

Statistics reveal that around 40,000 Iraqi Christians have fled to neighbouring countries such as Syria and Jordan. All this chaos has been observed in the midst of unrest and violence throughout September and October.

The Vatican's second senior official Cardinal Angelo Sodano, had a talk with Zebari on current developments in Iraq and the Middle East. Both sides "once again deplored the painful scourge of terrorism, pressing for a rapid return to respect of moral values which are the foundation of any civilization."

This has shed light to the movement of the Assyrian Christians in Iraq, who have been calling for the establishment of a special administrative region where they can enjoy autonomy from the Islamic Iraqi government.

In fact, the proposal has been widely backed by the international community, and the Pope also has showed his support for the reconstruction of the country.

Furthermore, Minister Zebari later told a press conference that human rights and religious freedom "will have to be enshrined in the new Iraqi constitution."

A communique released by Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls stated, "The minister thanked his holiness and his aides for the support they have always given to Iraq and expressed his government's commitment to the promotion of religious freedom and in particularly the defence of Christian communities."

The meeting also covered the sensitive question regarding the trial of Saddam Hussein. Hussein, who faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, is being held in US custody in a secret location in Iraq.

Zebari responded that the ousted Iraqi leader and his aides will be entitled to "a fair and transparent trial."

"They are Iraqis and we will apply in their case justice, the very justice they denied to thousands of Iraqis," he added.

Zebari said he did not know exactly when the trial would take place, but indicated that it would be after the elections scheduled for late January, and as soon as possible.